Can painting a wall start a migraine?

[missteal]

I've recently decorated my mum's hall and lounge. Over this period I had a lot more visual disturbances and really bad headaches which lasted for days. I'm just wondering if anyone else gets a migraine when using paints or decorating in general?

[MaryF]

Hi there, don't but many people with migraine tendencies react badly to paint fumes! I have several friends who do. Mary F x

[teadrinker]

I get migraines from my neck being out of alignment. I see flashing lights on a daily basis, even if nothing else happens, and can get them from turning my head.

Am due to do some much-needed decorating soon so this will be interesting. Am trying to think of how I can do it without bending head too much ( paying a decorator would be an obvious answer).

[Susann in reply to teadrinker]

I think decorating won't help your neck at all. As you say, you have to stretch and bend which would probably cause you to have the flashing lights and possibly full migraine. I know I can't stand the smell of paint and have migraine even if someone else is doing the decorating. Maybe you should have someone in! I have the artery in my neck squeezed which showed up on the scan and I often feel as if the blood supply to my brain is cut off when I am bending over. I also have a tempramandibular jaw which is affected by my migraine and ocular neuralgia which seems to bring about full migraine. Would like to hear how you get on with your decorating. I see you aren't giving up tea with migraine - it is a step too far for me as well. Mind you, peppermint tea is good for the head in-between English tea.

[fforfern]

I get migraines after doing anything which pulls/strains/twists my neck! Always make an appointment with my remedial physio for a massage in advance

[summer1026]

I have more migraine when I am around chemicals, perfumes, etc.

Maybe you are sensitive to something in the paint??

[Hidden]

Strong smells can completely turn me, even smells I like can turn me on occasion! Doesn't surprise me that you have a migraine after painting a wall. Even the strain of craning your neck in a certain way would trigger a tension headache in me.